Sound-reproducing device

ABSTRACT

A manually operable sound-reproducing device which uses a linear recording tape having plural side-by-side sound grooves which extend longitudinally of the tape and may be played back on a random basis by pulling the tape past the sound-reproducing system of the device. Depending upon the direction of the initial pull on the tape, one of a plurality of messages recorded on the corresponding sound groove of the tape may be reproduced by the device.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Gerhartweis Flushing; Henry Nemeth, Massapequa; Burt W. Ensmann, Flushing, all of, N.Y.

[21 Appl. No. 874,609

[22] Filed Nov. 6, 1969 I 45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Ideal Toy Corporation Hollis, N.Y.

[54] SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 274/11 R, 274/1 A [51] lnt.Cl ..G11b 25/06 [50] FieldolSeareh ..274/1.1,1l,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,961 3/1942 Heller 179/ 100.2 Ml 3,471,653 10/1969 Kawata... 274/4 A 2,689,736 9/1954 Siegel 274/1 (.1 3,486,756 12/1969 Disko 274/1 1) Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. Dearing Attorney-Amster & Rothstein ABSTRACT: A manually operable sound-reproducing device which uses a linear recording tape having plural side-by-side sound grooves which extend longitudinally of the tape and may be played back on a random basis by pulling the tape past the sound-reproducing system of the device. Depending upon the direction of the initial pull on the tape, one of a plurality of messages recorded on the corresponding sound groove of the tape may be reproduced by the device.

: m an to) PATENTED SEP1 4197i SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG.4.

INVENTORS GERHAR T WEISS HAS'IVRY NEAIETA/ SOUND-REPRODUCING DEVICE The present invention relates generally to a soundreproducing device, and in particular to such device incorporating a coiled sound tape having plural messages recorded thereon in side-by-side relation which messages may be played back on a random basis.

Sound-reproducing devices having the capability of playing back any one of a plurality of sounds or messages have widespread use in the doll and toy field, particularly if such device is small, relatively inexpensive and of an exceptional simple construction for mass production manufacture. Although good quality of sound reproduction is often a desirable and necessary factor in devices of this type, there are many applications where a relatively low order of sound quality is acceptable, provided that miniaturization and low cost are realizable objectives.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple message, a sound-reproducing device which is relatively small and quite inexpensive. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a tape type of sound-reproducing device which is capable of playing back any one of a plurality of messages on a random basis.

In copending application Ser. No. 739,313 ofJune 24, 1968 entitled Sound-Reproducing Means" many of these objectives are achieved with a sound-reproducing mechanism which includes a housing having a reel mounted therein for rotation relative to the housing. A tape having a plurality of recorded messages arranged thereon in generally parallel sound grooves is fixed at one end to the reel and is normally wound thereon with the outer free end portion of the tape extending from the housing. A spring is provided in the housing for biasing the reel so as normally to wind the tape on the reel. A diaphragm or speaking is carried by the housing and a stylus associated with the diaphragm is arranged for transmission of vibrations thereto when the stylus is engaged by the tape as the latter is moved and unreeled against the bias of the spring.

in order to manufacture the device illustrated and described in said copending application a number of constructional refinements have been necessitated. To this end, there is provided in accordance with the present invention a soundreproducing device which comprises a housing including a tape spool which is journaled within the housing by a transverse shaft, which the tape spool being rotatable about a spool axis extending transversely of the housing and also being displaced along the spool axis. A sound tape having thereon plural longitudinally extending sound grooves in side-by-side relation is secured to the spool, wound thereon and extensible relative thereto. A speaker is mounted on the housing and has a stylus connected thereto which stylus is suspended from the housing in a relatively fixed position by a flexible suspension mount and is engageable with the plural sound grooves incident to the movement of the tape past the stylus. The housing has an opening of a width greater than the width of the tape to permit lateral shifting of the tape and the spool such that various ones of the sound grooves may be laterally positioned to be engaged with the stylus. The tape extends through the opening and has a pull tab thereon such that the tape may be manually pulled for extension relative to the tape spool to move selected ones of the tape grooves past the stylus. A capstan is arranged to press the tape against the stylus and is mounted for movement by a capstan-mounting member which extends lengthwise of the housing to one side of the tape spool and is pivotally mounted on the transverse shaft for rocking movement about a capstan pivot coaxially with the spool axis. A spring mounts the capstan on the capstan-mounting member and means are arranged to normally bias the capstanmounting member to an inoperative position wherein the tape is out of sound-producing relation to the stylus. Means are provided on the capstan-mounting member which is engageable by the tape ans is effective in response to the extension of the tape relatively to the housing for moving the capstanmounting member into an operative position wherein the tape is in sound-producing relation to the stylus. The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated with reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention with taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sound-reproducing device embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the dotted line showing a laterally offset position for the tape spool or reel;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a sound-reproducing device in accordance with the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a bipartite housing 12 having a base section 14 and a top section 16 appropriately joined at junction 18.

Extending transversely of the housing 12 contiguous to one end thereof is a stationary main shaft 20. One end section of shaft 20 is of square cross section and is designated as 20a and the other end section is of the circular cross section and is designated as 20b (see FIG. 3). Stationary transverse shaft 20 is seated on the top section 16 of housing 12 in opposed seating parts 16a, 16b which seats receive depending and interfitting pairs of projections Ma, 14b carried on and depending from the base section 14 of housing 12. Thus, during manufacture shaft 20 may be dropped into seating parts 16a, 16b and upon closing down of the base section 14 of the housing, shaft 20 will be firmly anchored in a fixed position.

Disposed within the housing 12 and supported on the transverse shaft 20 is a tape spool 22 which includes an integral bearing sleeve 24 which is journaled on the circular section 20b of shaft 20 such that the tape spool 22 is rotatable about a spool axis extending transversely of the housing and is displaceable along the spool axis to the extent of the circular shaft section 20b Tape spool 22 further includes interfitting hub-forming parts 22b, 22b and cheek members 22c, 22d. Tape spool 22 is of two-part construction for convenience in manufacture and to facilitate anchoring one end of sound tape 26 and the connection of biasing spring 28.

Sound tape 26 is an elongated piece of flexible plastic having plural longitudinally extending sound grooves 30 embossed thereon in side-by-side relation. The sound grooves 30 have the desired sound modulation embossed thereon in hilland-dale fashion and may be manufactured on a mass production basis by techniques which are well understood. The sound tape 26 is wound into a coil on spool 22, has its inner end appropriately attached to the spool, extends lengthwise of the device 10 (see FIGS. l and 2) and projects outwardly through slot formed on upper or top housing section 16. The housing opening or slot 16c is of a width greater than the width of the tape 26 to permit lateral shifting of tape 26 and its supporting spool 22 such that various ones of the sound grooves 30 may be engaged with the sound-reproducing stylus-diaphragm assembly of the device 10, as will be described. At its free end, tape 26 carries an appropriate pull tab 32.

In order to wind tape 26 up on spool 22 (as is illustrated in FIG. 1) when pull tab 32 is released, yet not interfere with the lateral displacement of the spool-tape subassembly, coil spring 28 is anchored in a fashion such that it may be laterally displaced with spool 22 incident to different angles of tape pull. To this end, the square section 20a of stationary shaft 20 carries a spring holder 34. End 28a of spring 28 is anchored on holder 34 and end 28b of spring 28 is attached to tape spool 22. Spring holder 34 is thus mounted coaxially of the tape spool 22 and is laterally displaceable therewith but is confined against rotation about the spool axis and thereby provides the necessary reaction force such that spring 28 will serve its desired tape-retracting function.

Housing section 16 is formed with an u standing mounting rim 16d which, in this illustrative embodiment, bounds an oval-shaped opening which receives a speaker con or diaphragm 36. Diaphragm 36 includes the usual conical speaker or operating section 36a, an integral marginal mounting flange 36b and a central, cylindrical stylus-mounting sleeve 36c. Conveniently, the entire diaphragm 36 may be fabricated of a single piece of vacuum formed plastic. Mounting flange 36b is appropriately secured to rim 16d as by an adhesive or the like and the entire speaker is protected by a perforated cover or baffle 38.

At its center, the speaker cone 36a carries a stylus mount 40 from which depends the stylus 42. Stylus mount 40 is secured, as by adhesive, to cylindrical stylus mounting sleeve 36c of the diaphragm or speaker 36. In order to establish a relatively fixed position for style 42, there is provided a flexible suspension bridge 44 which includes opposed arms 44a, 44b molded integrally with housing section 16 and having an enlarged annular mounting head 44c. The enlarged annular mounting head 440 is operatively connected to stylus mount 40 and, in combination with opposed arms 44a and 44b, keeps stylus 42, which is mounted on stylus mount 40, in proper engagement with the grooves of tape 26. Thus, when stylus 42 bears against tape 26, appropriate sound-producing motions will be imparted to diaphragm 36 due to the axial excursions of stylus 42 as it tracks the hill-and-dale modulations of any one of the sound grooves 30.

Extending about stylus 42 is a combined guide and pressure pad member, generally designated as 46, which is mounted in any convenient fashion as by integral, laterally extending mounting arms 16e, 16f formed on housing section 16. Member 46 includes stationary guide pillows 46a, 46b which are disposed in leading and trailing relation to stylus 42 and provide stationary abutments for the operative face of sound tape 26 having the sound tracks 30. Guide pillows 46a, 46b are of the semicircular cross section along the operative width of tape (see FIGS. 1 and 3) and may be appropriately relieved away at their respective extremities (see HO. 3). Member 46 may be additionally provided with guide pins, such as generally designated at 46:, to limit the lateral displacement of tape 26 relative to stylus 42.

A movable capstan assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 48, is provided to appropriately bias various ones of the sound grooves 30 of tape 26 against stylus 42 for sound reproduction. The movable capstan assembly 48 includes an elongated capstan-mounting lever 50, a capstan 52 and a capstan bias spring 54. Capstan-mounting lever 50 includes a mounting hub 50a which journals the lever 50 in a position to extend lengthwise of housing 12 to one side of the tape spool 22 and provides a pivotal mount on the circular section b of shaft 20. Accordingly, member or lever 50 will rock about a capstan pivot coaxially with the spool axis. Lever 50 is Formed with integral lateral projections 50b, 50c, and 50d whic.. provide a convenient mount for spring 54 which serves as a resilient support for the capstan proper 52. Capstan 52 has a semicircular cross section and is positioned behind tape 26 in a longitudinal and transverse orientation to press tape 26 against stylus 42 intermediate guide pillows 46a, 46b (see dotted line showing in FIG. 1). Normally the capstanmounting member or lever 50 is biased to an inoperative position shown by the full lines in FIG. 1 wherein tape 26 is out of sound-producing relation to stylus 42. This is accomplished by the provision of a positioning stop 502 which bears against positioning spring 56 which is appropriately fixed at one end, as by being supported behind member 46. Capstan-mounting member 50 is normally retained against spring 56 by the tape 26 which is under spring tension and bears against tape guide and capstan-rocking member 50f, also formed integrally with member 50. In the normal illustrated position, spring 28 biases tape 26 to its coiled-up position wherein tab 32 bears against housing 12 contiguous to opening or slot 160. Thus, a force is exerted by guiding and rocking member 50f to hold the capstan-mounting member 50 in the full-line position illustrated in FIG. 1. When the user pulls on tab 32, the bias of spring 56 is overcome and the capstan-mounting member 50 rocks in the counterclockwise direction about the coaxial capstan and spool pivot (when viewed in FIG. 1) into the dotted line position wherein a groove 30 on the operative face of tape 26 tracks against stylus 42. Upon release of pull tab 32, tape 26 will recoil itself and when tab 32 contacts housing the capstanmounting member 50 is once again positioned as illustrated in the full lines in FIG. 1. Thus tape 26 is effective to displace capstan-mounting member 50 in response to the extension of the tape relative to the housing and to move the capstanmounting member into an operative position wherein the tape is in sound-producing relation'to the stylus.

Provision is made for limiting the rocking movement of the capstan-mounting 50 towards stylus 42. in this illustrative embodiment, an adjustable screw 58 is mounted on housing section 16 in an appropriate tapped hole in housing section 16 such that it may be adjusted externally thereof to limit the counterclockwise pivotal movement of capstan-mounting member 50 and to establish a corresponding limit position of the capstan 52 relative to stylus 42.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

With the sound-producing device in the FIG. 1 position, the user grasps tab 32 and pulls out thereon to extend the tape 26 relative to housing 12. With very little practice and experience, the user is able to exert a steady pull and to adjust the rate of the pull in accordance with what the user hears to reproduce the modulation on the plural sound grooves 30 of tape 26. Depending upon the angle at which the user pulls, the attitude of the device and other variables, various ones of the grooves 30 will be urged into engagement with stylus 42 and held resiliently thereagainst by capstan 52. Upon releasing tab 32 at the end of the play of any one sound groove, spring 28 is effective to retract the tape onto tape spool 22, the device returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and then is conditioned for the next play. Since there is no positive guide which establishes precise lateral positions for the tape 26 in relation to the stylus 42, it will be appreciated that the user will be unable to determine in advance just which message will be reproduced. Accordingly, there is a random playing of the messages on the tape as the user repeatedly withdraws the tape from the housing.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What we claim is:

l. A sound-reproducing device comprising a housing, a tape spool disposed within said housing, means joumaling said tape spool on said housing for rotation about a spool axis for extending transversely of said housing and for displacement along said spool axis, a sound tape having plural longitudinally extending sound grooves in side-by-side relation, said tape being secured to said spool, wound thereon and extensible relative thereto, a speaker mounted on said housing, a stylus operatively connected to said speaker and mounted on said housing in position to engage said plural sound grooves, said housing having an opening of a width greater than the width of said tape to permit lateral shifting of said tape and said spool such that various ones of said sound grooves may be engaged with said stylus, said tape extending through said opening such that it may be pulled for extension relative to said tape spool, a capstan adapted to press said tape against said stylus, a capstan-mounting member pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement about a capstan pivot coaxially with said spool axis, means mounting said capstan on said capstanmounting member, means normally biasing said capstanmounting member to an inoperative position wherein said tape is out of sound-producing relation to said stylus and means on said capstan-mounting member engageable by said ing a spring holder mounted coaxially of said tape spool and laterally displaceable therewith but confined against rotation about said spool axis and a retracting spring anchored on said spring holder and operatively connected to said tape spool.

4. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 including a flexible suspension bridge mounting said stylus on said housing.

5. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 including stop means on said housing for limiting the rocking movement of said capstan-mounting member toward said stylus.

6. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 5 including means adjustably mounting said stop on said housing.

7. A sound-reproducing device comprising a housing, a tape spool disposed within said housing, means including a stationary transverse shaft joumaling said tape spool on said housing for rotation about a spool axis extending transversely of said housing and for displacement along said spool axis, a sound tape having plural longitudinally extending sound grooves in side-by-side relation, said tape being secured to said spool, wound thereon and extensible relative thereto, a speaker mounted on said housing, a stylus operatively connected to said speaker, a flexible suspension mounting said stylus on said housing in a relatively fixed position to engage said plural sound grooves and be displaced incident to the modulation thereon, said housing having an opening of a width of greater than the width of said tape to permit lateral shifting of said tape and said spool such that various ones of said sound grooves may be laterally positioned to be engaged with said stylus, said tape extending through said opening and having a pull tab thereon such that said tape may be manually pulled for extension relative to said tape spool to move selected ones of said sound grooves past said stylus, a capstan adapted to press said tape against said stylus, a capstanmounting member extending lengthwise of said housing to one side of said tape spool and pivotally mounted on said transverse shaft for rocking movement about a capstan pivot coaxially with said spool axis, spring means mounting said capstan on said capstan-mounting member, means normally biasing said capstan-mounting member to an inoperative position wherein said tape is out of sound-producing relation to said stylus and means on said capstan-mounting member engageable by said tape and effective in response to the extension of said tape for moving said capstan-mounting member into an operative position wherein said tape is in sound-producing relation to said stylus.

8. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 7 including a spring-supporting hub mounted on said transverse shaft coaxially of said tape spool and laterally displaceable therewith but confined against rotation about said spool axis and a retracting spring anchored on said spring-supporting hub and operatively connected to said tape spool.

9. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 8 including stop means on said housing for limiting the rocking movement of said capstan-mounting member toward said stylus.

10. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 9 including means adjustably mounting said stop on said housing. 

1. A sound-reproducing device comprising a housing, a tape spool disposed within said housing, means journaling said tape spool on said housing for rotation about a spool axis for extending transversely of said housing and for displacement along said spool axis, a sound tape having plural longitudinally extending sound grooves in side-by-side relation, said tape being secured to said spool, wound thereon and extensible relative thereto, a speaker mounted on said housing, a stylus operatively connected to said speaker and mounted on said housing in position to engage said plural sound grooves, said housing having an opening of a width greater than the width of said tape to permit lateral shifting of said tape and said spool such that various ones of said sound grooves may be engaged with said stylus, said tape extending through said opening such that it may be pulled for extension relative to said tape spool, a capstan adapted to press said tape against said stylus, a capstan-mounting member pivotally mounted on said housing for rocking movement about a capstan pivot coaxially with said spool axis, means mounting said capstan on said capstan-mounting member, means normally biasing said capstan-mounting member to an inoperative position wherein said tape is out of sound-producing relation to said stylus and means on said capstan-mounting member engageable by said tape and effective in response to the extension of said tape for moving said capstan-mounting member into an operative position wherein said tape is in sound-producing relation to said stylus.
 2. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 wherein the means mounting said capstan on said capstan-mounting member includes a spring which biases said tape against said stylus when said capstan-mounting member is in said operative position.
 3. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 including a spring holder mounted coaxially of said tape spool and laterally displaceable therewith but confined against rotation about said spool axis and a retracting spring anchored on said spring holder and operatively connected to said tape spool.
 4. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 including a flexible suspension bridge mounting said stylus on said housing.
 5. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 1 including stop means on said housing for limiting the rocking movement of said capstan-mounting member toward said stylus.
 6. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 5 including means adjustably mounting said stop on said housing.
 7. A sound-reproducing device comprising a housing, a tape spool disposed within said housing, means including a stationary transverse shaft journaling said tape spool on said housing for rotation about a spool axis Extending transversely of said housing and for displacement along said spool axis, a sound tape having plural longitudinally extending sound grooves in side-by-side relation, said tape being secured to said spool, wound thereon and extensible relative thereto, a speaker mounted on said housing, a stylus operatively connected to said speaker, a flexible suspension mounting said stylus on said housing in a relatively fixed position to engage said plural sound grooves and be displaced incident to the modulation thereon, said housing having an opening of a width of greater than the width of said tape to permit lateral shifting of said tape and said spool such that various ones of said sound grooves may be laterally positioned to be engaged with said stylus, said tape extending through said opening and having a pull tab thereon such that said tape may be manually pulled for extension relative to said tape spool to move selected ones of said sound grooves past said stylus, a capstan adapted to press said tape against said stylus, a capstan-mounting member extending lengthwise of said housing to one side of said tape spool and pivotally mounted on said transverse shaft for rocking movement about a capstan pivot coaxially with said spool axis, spring means mounting said capstan on said capstan-mounting member, means normally biasing said capstan-mounting member to an inoperative position wherein said tape is out of sound-producing relation to said stylus and means on said capstan-mounting member engageable by said tape and effective in response to the extension of said tape for moving said capstan-mounting member into an operative position wherein said tape is in sound-producing relation to said stylus.
 8. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 7 including a spring-supporting hub mounted on said transverse shaft coaxially of said tape spool and laterally displaceable therewith but confined against rotation about said spool axis and a retracting spring anchored on said spring-supporting hub and operatively connected to said tape spool.
 9. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 8 including stop means on said housing for limiting the rocking movement of said capstan-mounting member toward said stylus.
 10. A sound-reproducing device according to claim 9 including means adjustably mounting said stop on said housing. 